State Opening of Parliament

Pomp and circumstance tends to be synonymous  with the UK.

This past Wednesday, my friend, Nicola, and I went to the State Opening of Parliament. 

The State Opening of Parliament essentially marks the first day of the parliamentary year. On the day, the Queen gives a speech about the government's agenda for the upcoming session.  It's on this day that the Queen, members of the House of Commons, and members of the House of Lords all are together (apart from other official events). 

Nicola and I got to the Houses of Parliament around 9am to camp out for the procession! It was a gloomy, rainy day, but we made do. Thank goodness for rain jackets and umbrellas. 

The procession started around 11am with several military bands.

From there, the crown jewels arrived.

Followed by the royals...

First, Prince Charles & Camilla

And, then the Queen and Prince Phillip arrived! 

It was well worth the cold and rain to see the procession as well as some of the members of the royal family!